La Chingona

The quote in the back of this beautifully warm piece, “Quisieron enterrarnos pero se les olvidó que somos semillas,” which translates to “They tried to bury us but forgot we were seeds,” is a Mexican proverb that has resonated with me since I first sprouted as a young seedling. It’s often used as a metaphor for resilience and resistance in the face of efforts to suppress or erase a people or an idea. The phrase reminds us that even when buried by adversity, the spirit and potential for growth remain, like seeds that push through the soil to bloom.

I felt this powerful Zapatista perfectly represents that spirit. Growing up surrounded by incredibly strong, hardworking women, I saw firsthand the unbreakable strength that rises from struggle. This piece is my tribute to that resilience—the roots that hold us firm, the seeds that keep growing no matter what.